Shilsen's Eberron SH (Finished - The Last Word : 9/20/15)
- Thread starter Rackhir
- Start date
shilsen
Adventurer
Well, I do need to spread the RBDM lovefafhrd said:Shilsen, you rat bastard.Woe that I have just caught up with your storyhour! <much lamenting and gnashing of teeth>
Being an RBDM to your players/PCs is easy. But being it to people reading your story hour - now that takes doing!Kidding aside, if I don't have an update up by the weekend, I'll definitely have one up during it.
shilsen
Adventurer
Unfortunately, end of semester grading kept me away from the promised weekend update. But at least I'm only off by one day. Here it is:Vorput said:
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Angels reappear in the room at the Gray House that Nameless uses for this purpose. “All right,” he says, “I’m completely out of spells right now, so I’m not going anywhere till I’ve prepared mine for the day.” Korm nods, worriedly feeling the tentacles that still extend from the lower part of his face, and says in a muffled voice, “Same here.” Luna groans and says, “Damn! I wanted to go take a walk or something. Fine! I’ll do the same.”
“I’ll do that later,” says Gareth. “I need to go speak to some people.”
Nameless looks at him, shakes his head and says, sounding (and feeling) significantly concerned, “Gareth, this is Sharn! Do you really want to go out without being completely prepared? I know Mordain – really nice guy, wasn’t he? – gave us all of those protections, but why push it? You know we decided to never go get the paper here without being completely prepared to be killed.”
Gareth scratches his chin with his metal hand. “You do have a point. Thank you.” He smiles warmly back at Nameless, appreciating his comrade’s concern for him. “Not a problem,” smiles back Nameless, addressing the entire group, “I don’t want any of you getting into trouble if I can help it.” The Angels exchange nods and glances, enjoying the camaraderie of being among trusted friends who would do anything to protect each other, and then settle down to meditate for or study their various spells. Six stands quietly near the door, thinking about the changes Mordain made to him.
A little over an hour later (by which time Korm’s tentacles have thankfully retracted), all of the spellcasters are ready. Nameless recasts his arcane sight and makes it permanent again. Having done so, he studies himself and the others. “Mordain wasn’t kidding – we’re all glowing with magical auras, way more than usual. All abjurations and transmutations, but there’s also a pair of enchantments. One moderate and the other strong. Wonder what they are. I’ll prepare an analyze dweomer tomorrow and find out.”
“That’s good to know,” says Gareth. “Now let’s get outside.”
Luna is already on the move by the time he finishes the sentence, so she is the one who surprises one of the warforged guards, who is entering the hallway with a broom. He comes to a stop and then rumbles, “You are back. Fett wished to be informed when you were. I will let him know.” As he’s turning away, Luna says, “Send him to the living room.”
A couple of minutes later, Fett hurries in to join the Angels. “Where in Dolurrh have you guys been? We’ve been running around like crazy trying to work out if you were alive! The divinations all said that you were, but we couldn’t find out anything else.”
Six asks, “But we weren’t gone that long. Were we?”
“You left for Droaam over two weeks ago! I know it’s that long, but considering the stuff that happens with you and that it was Droaam you were going to, I figured there was a little reason to get concerned. Especially when Trillia couldn’t get a sending through to Nameless. We got the Archierophant to try one on Gareth too, but got the same result. She did a divination later to ensure that you guys were alive, which she said you were, but we double-checked via Balan and Trillia.” Fett chuckles. “Good thing a lot of the more powerful spellcasters in town have some connection with you. Anyway, what kept you?”
“Mordain the Fleshweaver.”
“Mordain the what?”
“Fleshweaver. And no, it’s not as bad as it sounds. In fact, he’s a very nice and friendly guy.”
Fett looks around at them all curiously. “Hey, what’s with the … er, third eye, Six? And Luna looks a little …um, slimmer.”
“It’s all thanks to Mordain. He fixed us up a bit. We went to him to check about Nameless’ condition, and he did some work on us.”
“O-kay! I’m probably better off not knowing, so I’ll go to the important stuff – did you find out what’s the situation with you, Nameless?”
The Angels exchange glances and then Nameless says, “All right – but make sure nobody finds out.” He proceeds to explain about the ‘situation’ to a rapidly more alarmed Fett. When he is done, the changeling shakes his head. “And here I thought working with my old friends in the Blades led to crazy stuff. You guys are in a whole other league! So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re thinking of getting out of Sharn for a bit soon and doing a little traveling. But we’ll be back regularly. You can have the house to yourself while we’re gone and look after it. Is that all right?”
“Sure,” shrugs Fett. “As for going somewhere, there might be a few options. Hass ir’Tain wants to speak to you. He sent a message along with the invite to the Tain Gala which arrived a few days ago. Of course, it was on the 6th, the day before, so you missed it. But Hass will be in town for a few more days and said you should contact him when you return.” Fett grins and adds, “By the way, the Gala invite was just for Gareth.”
As Gareth grins and looks at Luna, Fett continues. “But Hass wants to speak to all of you. There’s a second invite to that end, from Joseth ir’Kalain. I know you guys don’t know him, so I checked him out. He’s a minor noble, but he’s also the representative of Q’barran interests in the city, since Q’barra doesn’t have an embassy here. My sources say that Joseth’s supposed to be a shrewd negotiator but a fairly good and honorable man, for what it’s worth. No idea what he wants to talk to you about. As for the third….”
Fett reaches into a pocket and produces a letter, in the distinctive envelope of House Sivis. “It arrived a week ago, and since I was already wondering about your safety then, I opened and read it. Sorry.” As the Angels wave away the apology, Fett hands over the letter, saying, “It’s from your former companion Corven.”
Nameless reads the message quickly and passes it around, while explaining what it says. Corven, who is still at New Cyre working for Prince Oargev ir’Wynarn, only survivor of the Cyran royal family. Oargev, working with Houses Cannith and Deneith, is planning another expedition into the Mournland, which will follow up on the previous one that slew the Lord of Blades. It will check on the situation with warforged in the Mournland, while also seeking to recover more information about the operation the Lord of Blades had set up there, as well as hopefully recovering some artifacts lost during the Day of Mourning and gather more information about the Mournland. Corven asks if the Angels, whom he has been reading about in the Korranberg Chronicle, are interested in participating, since their unusual abilities and power could be a great asset.
Fett nods somberly and says, “That was the expedition my friends were killed on. If you do go on this, I’d appreciate if you’d try to find out whatever you could about what happened to them.”
“Certainly,” says Gareth. “But are we going there?”
Korm says, “The Mournland is one place I haven’t been, and one place I’m in no hurry to go. On the other hand, that’s one place very few people will be following us.”
“In that case,” says Luna, “I’m good to go.”
“It just means anyone following us in there is more dangerous, that’s all,” says Six. “But I’m curious what’s in there.”
“We’ll make a decision after speaking to Hass and this Joseth, okay?” suggests Nameless.
“Sounds good.” Gareth rises. “And now I really do need to go. Lalia’s probably been missing me, and I need to see some other people too.”
* * *
Only an unusual degree of self-control prevents Ythana Morr from placing her head in her hands. Instead, only the knuckles of her clasped hands whiten slightly as she asks Gareth in a flat, slightly brittle, voice, “You are certain about all of that? This … Fleshweaver could have been lying to you all for his own ends, could he not?”
“No, no,” says Gareth confidently. “Mordain wouldn’t lie to us. He was very helpful. As I said, he made me a paladin and ....” This time, a small muscle twitches in the Archierophant’s jaw, but she says nothing. Gareth continues, “…. did some work on all of us. I’m quite certain that what he said of Nameless is true.”
Ythana breathes deeply and says, “So – if you are correct, this means Nameless puts not just everyone in Sharn now, but all of Khorvaire at risk! Tell me what you would like me to do.”
“I thought you might contact the Keeper of the Flame. She might have the power to do something about it, or provide guidance about what we should do?”
“Very likely. I shall do so. But, in view of this development, let me ask you now, what would your reaction be if we need to transport Nameless to Flamekeep?”
“I would help however I can,” says Gareth. Ythana relaxes slightly and begins to nod, but then he adds, “Of course, Nameless might not want to go.” The Archierophant stares at him silently for a few moments, and then asks, her voice flat, “Does that matter at a time like this? If you are correct, then we must do what needs to be done, whether Nameless like it or no.”
Gareth hesitates, and then says, as politely as he can, “But that would be wrong. Nameless is a free agent, and while I will try to persuade him to go to Flamekeep, I cannot allow him to be forced to go there. It would be wrong.”
Ythana’s voice this time is completely cold. “Have you by any chance heard of the concept of the greater good?”
“Of course, but I really don’t think it would be the right thing to do here. Having Nameless in the same place is very risky, and with his abilities he – and we – can guard him as few can. Of course, as I mentioned, I’ll try to persuade him to go there himself.”
Ythana opens her mouth, shuts it with a clack of teeth, and then speaks again, evidently keeping herself under tight control. “We will discuss this later when I have spoken to the Keeper and heard her will. In the interim, I suggest you spend some time considering where your true allegiances. You may go.”
Gareth thinks about explaining himself further, but it’s clear that the Archierophant is not interested. He excuses himself and leaves, thinking as he goes that it’s a pity she doesn’t quite understand the whole issue of loyalty to a friend.
* * *
Gareth’s meeting with Lalia is much more pleasant. Though she too is significantly concerned about what he reveals, she is naturally much more concerned about his well-being and pleased to have him back (relatively) whole and unscathed. While Lalia isn’t as pleased about the news that the Angels will, in all likelihood, have to leave Sharn for some time in the near future, she tells Gareth that she will be there for the future and will look forward to his return. She also promises any help that she can provide when it comes to dealing with Nameless’ situation, though neither Gareth nor she can think of an area where her abilities could really help.
An expectedly similar offer comes from Cedric, once Gareth meets and informs him too about the situation. He is also, even more expectedly, roundly amused at Gareth’s description of his meeting with the Archierophant.
The older paladin looks at Gareth over the top of two glasses, holding the drinks that the latter has become consistently more used to indulging in with Cedric, and slowly stops laughing. “So she tried to explain to you about the greater good and you told her how much more important being nice to your buddy was?” Cedric shakes his head sadly. “Bloody hell – how come I miss things like this? That’s just beautiful, man!”
Gareth shrugs a little embarrassedly. “I wish she didn’t take it that badly. But it makes perfect sense, right?”
Cedric looks him up and down curiously. “In a manner of speaking. But, honestly, not in keeping with what I’d have expected from you. I’m beginning to wonder what this Mordain did to you – or your friends – that you don’t know. You sound a little different.” His eyes narrow. “Especially when you speak of this Mordain.”
“Well, Mordain really was very kind to us. And I feel the same. Nameless did mention that he’d detected two powerful auras of enchantment on us, which he’ll try to identify tomorrow. Maybe that’s what you’re noticing.”
“Maybe. Perhaps it’s part of all these ‘modifications’ you mentioned. Or maybe this Fleshweaver seriously f*cked with your heads.” Cedric sips his drink silently for a few seconds, and then says, “Anyway, the situation with Nameless is a bigger concern. As I said before, I’ll help any way I can. Though, I’ve got to say, you folks are getting way out of my league, from what I hear. So it’s a good thing that it sounds like cutting Nameless’ head off won’t be a solution. Because I wasn’t looking forward to it, even if it became essential, and now I’m not even sure I could do it.”
“No,” says Gareth quickly, feeling a surge of protective feeling for his friend, “That’s definitely not an option.”
“So you’ve been told, to be precise. But taking it to the Keeper was a good idea, I think. I’ve only met Jaela once, but that girl has some serious class to her. Not just because she’s the Keeper I mean, and the fact that she’s something like eleven or twelve now doesn’t change that.” He eyes Gareth thoughtfully. “Tell me – if Ythana tells you that Nameless must be taken to Flamekeep right now, what would you say? Assuming he doesn’t want to go, that is.”
“Well,” Gareth replies slowly, “As I told her, I’d have to respectfully disagree and take Nameless’ side.”
Cedric’s face slowly splits into a wide grin. “Tell you what, if that happens, be good and say, ‘Hello’ from me to Ythana.” His smile expands at the look on Gareth’s face and he says, “I’m kidding. She’d probably smack you silly if you did that. Or would try to. And you’ll have enough trouble as it is.”
Cedric and Gareth talk some more, before the latter finally takes his leave. As he is going, Cedric says, “Just one more thing. I appreciate the trust, but you might want to not be sharing this information with a lot of people. More than a few people I can think of would not be happy with this information, and some would try to take advantage of it.”
“Of course. We’re not about to spread this around if we can help it.”
Gareth’s statement is only very strictly true in the sense that the Angels are not going to spread this around in the future. By the time he has met Cedric, Nameless has already related the details of their trip to, and experiences with, Mordain. And so has Korm, to Surr’kal, the local Gatekeeper, in Carosten Park.
Trillia takes the news with more equanimity than anyone who has heard the news bar Cedric, her study of Xoriat having long convinced her that the plane of madness would someday again manage to extend its tendrils to Eberron through the void. While she had not expected it to potentially occur during her lifetime, or though the form of her colleague, she recovers quickly from her initial surprise and begins to discuss methods of possibly dealing with the problem, though neither Nameless nor she can come up with any long-term solutions.
Surr’kal’s response is precisely the opposite, as he sits and stares at Korm with comically bulging eyes and mouth hanging open for long moments before he can speak. While the whole issue of Korm now having the ability to take on aspects of various aberrations and, according to Mordain, being able to take on more such forms by eating a large part of one, is something that would normally have horrified the druid. But now, with the news about Xoriat, he completely ignores it. Eventually, Surr’kal composes himself and says, “This is far too important news – and potentially disastrous – for me to make decisions about. I shall send Gurr’khan a message. That will take a while, so please be very careful what you are doing. And keep a careful eye on Nameless.”
“I will. We’re not about to let anything to happen to him. Don’t worry.”
Surr’kal’s expression says everything there is to say about that suggestion.
* * * * *
The next morning, before they are leave to visit Joseth ir’Kalain and Hass ir’Tain, Nameless casts an analyze dweomer and makes a couple of interesting discoveries. The two spells that are in effect on each of the Angels are a geas and a programmed amnesia.
“I’m presuming the geas,” he explains, “Is what is giving us that feeling we discussed that we should not come within miles of Mordain’s home.”
“It’s not like he needed to do that,” grumbles Luna. “I’d have liked to thank him for the cool stuff, but if he doesn’t want us to do that, he just needed to ask.”
“True,” says Nameless, feeling as if he should defend the Fleshweaver, “But maybe he just wanted to make sure. After all, he does have really complicated and important work, and he took a lot of time off for us.”
“That’s true,” agrees Six. “But what is this programmed amnesia? The name worries me.”
“It’s a spell of the ninth valence, which is as powerful as spells can get, and very powerful even by those standards. I’ve read about it, and supposedly only one of the greatest mages of the past could cast it, but Mordain evidently can. It basically gives the caster access to all of the target’s memories, and gives him the ability to entirely recreate that target’s memories, by adding new ones or removing those that exist, and actually rebuild someone’s personality as one wants.”
The Angels are all silent for a few seconds while they assimilate this information. “So,” says Korm slowly, “Mordain might have rebuilt our personalities or memories?”
“I guess so,” says Nameless.
“So,” says Luna with a frown, just as slowly as Korm, “Everything we remember about our past might be a fake? Why would he do that? After all, he knows we trust him.”
“Or maybe,” Gareth says, reluctantly, “We just remember trusting him because he put that in our memories. And personalities.”
Luna growls. “Now I’m getting pissed off. And still feeling really friendly towards Mordain. This seriously messed up.” Then she looks up suddenly. “Hey – what about all that stuff with that damn Shard and the daelkyr and the rakshasas and all? Did that not happen?”
“I’m fairly sure it all did,” says Nameless. “We know people, like Trillia and others, who remember us telling them about the events. We’ve got the Korranberg Chronicle printing stories we told Flim. All …,” he corrects himself, “… or most of that is certainly true. Little details, and things we haven’t told anyone about, we can’t be sure of. The same goes for things we’ve kept private, which may have been erased.” The Mournland! How much of that was true? And did Mordain put any of that in there? Or remove any? And how can I know? I’ve never told anyone about it. Damn! Aloud, he says, “We’ll have to think about this and keep an eye out for things which don’t fit our memories.”
The others agree and, after a little more discussion, proceed to leave the Gray House. On the airship leaving Ocean View, the Angels are all unusually silent, wondering how much of what they know of their individual and collective pasts and believe of the world around them is actually true.*
The first stop is at the home of Joseth ir’Kalain, a well-maintained but modest apartment that lacks the ostentation common to the large buildings surrounding it in Mithral Tower, the wealthy residential district in Upper Central. Joseth, who looks and sounds more like a middle-class businessman than the owner of a Q’barran dragonshard mine (as Fett has told the Angels he is), greets the Angels and quickly gets down to business. He says that there have been recent problems with the lizardfolk in Q’barra, with multiple attacks on outlying settlements, and rumors of a lizardfolk army gathering to launch an all-out war. With most of Q’barra being covered in dense jungle, regular troops have difficulty there, and this situation may require more varied skills. He explains that he has read and heard much about the Angels’ unique capabilities, and believes that they might be able to succeed where hundreds or even thousands of soldiers might not. Joseth, on behalf of King Sebastes ir’Kesslan of Q’barra, would like to hire them to the end of investigating the lizardfolk and helping to destroy or disperse the army, assuming one actually exists.
Luna is immediately intrigued at the idea of spending time in the jungle, and considers the possibility of using flame strikes on an entire army worth of targets an additional bonus, but the others are a little more circumspect. Joseth also mentions that the Q’barran jungles hold many ruins extending as far back as the fall of the Dhakaani empire and earlier, so the Angels would have additional opportunities for exploration, a suggestion which isn’t as enticing as it could be, since Nameless figures that in his current condition he should stay away from places which might have some connections with the daelkyr and their minions. The Angels promise to consider the offer but will not commit themselves yet.
They then proceed to descend to the Ambassador Towers district to meet with Hass. The young parliamentarian is pleased to see them back and looking hale and hearty (partly due to the various magical disguises the Angels now use daily to hide Nameless’ tentacle or Six’s third eye). He informs them that he has found a task befitting their abilities, which should also help the nation. As some of them know, Princess Haydith ir’Wynarn, younger sister to King Kaius III of Karrnath, now dwells in the Brelish capital Wroat, while King Boranel’s youngest son Halix and daughter Borina live in Korth in Karrnath. This exchange was intended to improve diplomatic relations between the countries after the War and is generally regarded as having been quite successful.
Haydith is about to return home for a visit and will be leaving Wroat via airship in a week’s time. There is some information that members of the terrorist organization the Emerald Claw are likely to try attacking her during the journey, as reprisal for Breland cracking down on Emerald Claw cells (coincidentally, their Sharn headquarters was the Gray House) and their outlawing in Karrnath. Since the Angels are the most powerful adventurers in Breland, as well as now consisting of specifically Brelish and Karrnathi members, they are the perfect choice to provide special protection to bolster Haydith’s regular security.
After providing these details, Hass explains that this assignment involves no payment, since the Angels are expected to do their duty as loyal members of the nation. However, he will not try to coerce them in any way and they are free to refuse, with no offense taken if they do. If they do carry out the task, however, very powerful people in two nations would be indebted to them.
The Angels ask for an opportunity to discuss the offer privately, and when allowed to do so, quickly agree that this suits them perfectly. Not only will it take them out of Sharn and involve doing a fair amount of traveling, but the possibility of getting some very powerful patrons is too good to pass up. The Angels head back to Hass and give him their agreement.
* This is the bit where I called a momentary break and informed the players that anything and everything that we had played out and seen occur earlier in the campaign now might simply be a memory implanted by Mordain. And events might have occurred that have been removed from their collective memories. I never planned for any of this when they agreed to meet Mordain, but, boy, am I going to enjoy milking it for all it’s worth
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
shilsen said:* This is the bit where I called a momentary break and informed the players that anything and everything that we had played out and seen occur earlier in the campaign now might simply be a memory implanted by Mordain. And events might have occurred that have been removed from their collective memories. I never planned for any of this when they agreed to meet Mordain, but, boy, am I going to enjoy milking it for all it’s worth
Eh... So it goes. Personally, I think you'll have about as much sucess as at milking a cat. All of the characters are defined much more by their personalities than their past and their personalities are something you don't really have any control over.
Solarious
Explorer
You go along and keep thinking that. Ask Gareth sometime how that turned out.Rackhir said:
But seriously, after what happened to Gareth, you really believe that? I mean, if shilsen has taught you anything, it should be that the past isn't the dustbin of history, but a living collection of grudges and secrets that jump up and maul off your face the second it gets a good shot at scarring you. How did you guys end up with all these modifications in the first place? Oh yeah, you guys ran off to Xen'drik in the middle of a plot thread... and then failed to kill the druid dangling at the end of that thread when you came back... who came back and killed Nameless... and now you're juggling the second nuke of the campaign. shil might be the one who puts you through all this, but you really have to realize that ultimately, you all are the ones who are stepping through those obviously trapped doors.
You know, I was considering waiting to make a more complete post, but this was seriously too good to pass up. '...defined much more by their personalities than their past' indeed. Next thing you'll tell me is that a troupe of thugs you should be able to wither by looking in their direction can't soundly trounce you.
Don't make me list all the ideas I have whirring in my head that can seriously screw Nameless up.
ajanders
Explorer
I keep hearing Mordain "made Gareth a paladin".
Given Mordain, that's alarmingly non-specific.
I'm thinking a small, lawful good symbiote grown from a bit of paladin Mordain had in storage and stored in Gareth's silver hand.
I really have no trouble picturing Gareth holding his hand out to turn undead when a panel springs open in his palm and a minature Cedric pops out with his own tiny holy symbol and turns the undead for him. Then Cedric retracts, the panel closes, and Gareth looks confused at all the expressions of horror.
Given Mordain, that's alarmingly non-specific.
I'm thinking a small, lawful good symbiote grown from a bit of paladin Mordain had in storage and stored in Gareth's silver hand.
I really have no trouble picturing Gareth holding his hand out to turn undead when a panel springs open in his palm and a minature Cedric pops out with his own tiny holy symbol and turns the undead for him. Then Cedric retracts, the panel closes, and Gareth looks confused at all the expressions of horror.
shilsen
Adventurer
Solarious said:You go along and keep thinking that. Ask Gareth sometime how that turned out.
You know, that's the first thing I thought of when I read Rackhir's comment
Speaking of which, as this update should have indicated and the next one will hopefully help underline, AviLazar has been doing a really good job roleplaying the difference in Gareth with regard to the memory/personality modification done by Mordain. One thing I told the players was that the PCs now have an even stronger feeling of camaraderie towards their companions than they already did, as well as a very strong interest in looking after each other, especially Nameless. That's why Gareth responded as he did to the Archierophant.
That whole business with Cainan actually tied everything together for the PCs even more than you mentioned. When they ignored the Gatekeepers' request to investigate the problems with the water supply, and esp. since they took off to Xen'drik, Cainan pulled off the plague that he did. Which led to Korm coming to Sharn, and Cedric going there from Stormreach. And the existence of the plague led to the Daask-Boromar battles, which had begun again due to the Angels taking out the Daask payroll, being put on hold, and let Daask regather its strength. There are a few other things connected with it which have also had an effect on the campaign, and some that are likely to continue occurring. And, of course, the plague is hardly the only example. As you said, the past constantly informs the present and the future, all of them modified by PC action and choice. If it didn't, then it wouldn't be a campaign, but would just be a set of one-offs occurring in succession.
You know, I was considering waiting to make a more complete post, but this was seriously too good to pass up. '...defined much more by their personalities than their past' indeed. Next thing you'll tell me is that a troupe of thugs you should be able to wither by looking in their direction can't soundly trounce you.
Ouch! A hit, a palpable hit
Oh, please do! At least in the other threads I put together for ideas for ways to screw the PCs.
ajanders said:
And very intentionally so of course.
You almost made me spit up all over my computer screen! That's beautiful, man - just beautiful
!
Vorput
First Post
Is programmed amnesia a published spell? or something you created?
I've actually got this GREAT idea for a campaign now where the characters start as good-aligned adventurers, till a point where for no good reason some really high level clerics/paladins capture them, but then just as mysteriously release them.
The trick would be they're all evil characters, who the good guys captured and reprogrammed (for some reason- maybe to infiltrate some cult they're a part of)- and the first several sessions of role-playing was all just inserted memories. It'd be hard to pull off well, but if I could.. man- that'd be awesome. Especially if their mentors/friends were actually agents the Clerics inserted after they had modified their memories.... And if one of the players was in the loop from the ground-up, they could be a 'mole' inserted by the Paladins...
Granted, my players tend to be pretty free-willed... me telling them their characters had different alignment/personalities than they though probably wouldn't go over well... might even end the campaign, but it does seem like a good idea...
I've actually got this GREAT idea for a campaign now where the characters start as good-aligned adventurers, till a point where for no good reason some really high level clerics/paladins capture them, but then just as mysteriously release them.
The trick would be they're all evil characters, who the good guys captured and reprogrammed (for some reason- maybe to infiltrate some cult they're a part of)- and the first several sessions of role-playing was all just inserted memories. It'd be hard to pull off well, but if I could.. man- that'd be awesome. Especially if their mentors/friends were actually agents the Clerics inserted after they had modified their memories.... And if one of the players was in the loop from the ground-up, they could be a 'mole' inserted by the Paladins...
Granted, my players tend to be pretty free-willed... me telling them their characters had different alignment/personalities than they though probably wouldn't go over well... might even end the campaign, but it does seem like a good idea...
