The Death of Eliminster
- Thread starter Kestrel
- Start date
Lord Zardoz
Explorer
Are you quite sure you wish to bother?
While it may seem 'cool' to have Elminster get roasted by a flight of Dragons, it is quite another thing for the players to be a 3rd party to a Dice Orgy with Dragons and Elminster. The players are low enough level that the size and str required for the Dragons will entirely beyond their ability. Why would any hatchling dragons be along in a strike by some hostile dragons.
While pyrotechnic displays often work well in movies, in D&D, if the players are not a direct part of what is going on, then they are most likely going to be bored. It would be another thing if Elminster was going to be overwelmed by say, one dragon and an army of 10 000 Ogres or Giants. At least the players have a reasonable shot at taking down a few Ogres or Hill Giants while Elminster gets his pipe inserted into his rectal cavity by "Epic Level" Dragon and some epic level Ogre's with class levels.
The one problem with the Forgotten Realms is that there are so many player known epic type NPC heroes that it is a wonder that the players are needed at all. The players should be the primary players in any campaign, not the bit players.
END COMMUNICATION
While it may seem 'cool' to have Elminster get roasted by a flight of Dragons, it is quite another thing for the players to be a 3rd party to a Dice Orgy with Dragons and Elminster. The players are low enough level that the size and str required for the Dragons will entirely beyond their ability. Why would any hatchling dragons be along in a strike by some hostile dragons.
While pyrotechnic displays often work well in movies, in D&D, if the players are not a direct part of what is going on, then they are most likely going to be bored. It would be another thing if Elminster was going to be overwelmed by say, one dragon and an army of 10 000 Ogres or Giants. At least the players have a reasonable shot at taking down a few Ogres or Hill Giants while Elminster gets his pipe inserted into his rectal cavity by "Epic Level" Dragon and some epic level Ogre's with class levels.
The one problem with the Forgotten Realms is that there are so many player known epic type NPC heroes that it is a wonder that the players are needed at all. The players should be the primary players in any campaign, not the bit players.
END COMMUNICATION
Kestrel
Explorer
That's a good point Lord Zardoz. My thinking is the players will a bit player in the Flight of Dragons part of it, but the heroes when it comes to getting the townsfolk home. The Flight of Dragons will contain more than just great wyrms, Im thinking maybe 3-5 of those at most and the rest are younger, including a young adult or two. When the plane shift occurs, one of the young adults will be shifted as well, giving the players thier spotlight in saving the townsfolk from it.
As a player, I would think it would be a fun adventure, but you're right, the players may not enjoy it at all. Im hoping they will.
As a player, I would think it would be a fun adventure, but you're right, the players may not enjoy it at all. Im hoping they will.
Chun-tzu
First Post
This campaign reminds me of the episode of Superman where he disappears (captured by Darkseid), and so Supergirl desperately tries to maintain his presence in Metropolis so that the bad guys don't realize that Superman is gone.
In your campaign, I imagine the Harpers, Zhentarim, Elminster's allies, and many others would be scrambling for verification of Elminster's absence. The Harpers might use illusions or the like to try to maintain his presence, and the PCs might even be part of this. This ruse might work, or it might fail completely. The PCs might be involved in damage control, trying to cut off spies before they can relay the news to the bad guys. Just throwing out some ideas.
In your campaign, I imagine the Harpers, Zhentarim, Elminster's allies, and many others would be scrambling for verification of Elminster's absence. The Harpers might use illusions or the like to try to maintain his presence, and the PCs might even be part of this. This ruse might work, or it might fail completely. The PCs might be involved in damage control, trying to cut off spies before they can relay the news to the bad guys. Just throwing out some ideas.
kkoie
First Post
Well Elminster would probably planeshift the town before doing anything else. Unless the dragons are going to teleport from nowhere, you might have the players discover the dragons from a distance. They might see them flying towards town, a mile or two away, and then go to inform Elminster, who is probably already preparing for the battle. While Elminster is meeting to fight the dragons and preparing to planeshift the town, you could keep the players busy by having them help the city officials evacuate the town.
Another idea, is that as these dozen or two dozen dragons attack elminster, members of the Cult of the Dragon might actually attack the townsfolk. You could have the players be busy fighting them, and at the same time, describe what is happening to Elminster in the background. Then at the key moment, Elminster could cast his planeshift spell, right before he gets toasted by all the dragons, or something like that.
Another idea, is that as these dozen or two dozen dragons attack elminster, members of the Cult of the Dragon might actually attack the townsfolk. You could have the players be busy fighting them, and at the same time, describe what is happening to Elminster in the background. Then at the key moment, Elminster could cast his planeshift spell, right before he gets toasted by all the dragons, or something like that.
Larry Fitz
First Post
For some serious fun have Modenkainen's Disjunction cast on ol Eli.... Contingency? What Contingency? And a Wish or Miracle that keeps Eli dead for "at least as long as he's been alive" could be really difficult for his meddlesome friemds to get around... Bwahahahahahahahahahaah......
um... sorry about that.....
um... sorry about that.....
ok
1) why even go through the ordeal of letting the players know what happened to the townsfolk.
Let the attack happen at night, the people wake up, bright lights and whala, you are in another plane. Players are the ones that will have to find a way home
When they return home they find out about the big fight and El is missing. The Flight of dragons is the most common rumour spread about the disappearance, doesn't necessarily be true.
A what if scenario... What if there is an equal but opposite alignment character out there who is just as powerful as El? Once and for all, He wants to know who is strongest, during the battle El sends the town planeshifted away so he can let loose his humongous spells. Result, blackened land with holes etc.
2) Ways to neutralize El. Why do you need to kill him? Take him somewhere else. A well placed imprison spell would keep him forever locked in the earth until his friends arrive, but even worse, what if the opposing force sacrifices his body in a bid for something worse, EL'S body! A soul exchange and then Have El pop up all over the place creating havok, ruining his name, while the real El is out of spells and locked up in some magic dead area from the enemy's people.
Remember can't detect something in magic dead areas.
1) why even go through the ordeal of letting the players know what happened to the townsfolk.
Let the attack happen at night, the people wake up, bright lights and whala, you are in another plane. Players are the ones that will have to find a way home
When they return home they find out about the big fight and El is missing. The Flight of dragons is the most common rumour spread about the disappearance, doesn't necessarily be true.
A what if scenario... What if there is an equal but opposite alignment character out there who is just as powerful as El? Once and for all, He wants to know who is strongest, during the battle El sends the town planeshifted away so he can let loose his humongous spells. Result, blackened land with holes etc.
2) Ways to neutralize El. Why do you need to kill him? Take him somewhere else. A well placed imprison spell would keep him forever locked in the earth until his friends arrive, but even worse, what if the opposing force sacrifices his body in a bid for something worse, EL'S body! A soul exchange and then Have El pop up all over the place creating havok, ruining his name, while the real El is out of spells and locked up in some magic dead area from the enemy's people.
Remember can't detect something in magic dead areas.
Oni
First Post
You could take a much more low key approach and have Elminster suprised and taken with little fighting or being tricked. Something like Soul Bind or Trap the Soul could keep him out of the way for quite some time. If you wanted to make the effect more permanent then make an artifact that does something similar.
Oh I just thought of something that could put him out of the way permanent like, even beyond the aid of his friends. A Sphere of Annihilation.
Oh I just thought of something that could put him out of the way permanent like, even beyond the aid of his friends. A Sphere of Annihilation.
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