The Liberation of Tenh Plot Thread

[Rackhir]

A clever use of protection from divination could be used to divert scrying on to the fake Pris, by shielding the real one. I'd have to check the mechanics, but if the double had the same name and that's all they were scrying based on, it should work and provide "incontrovertable" evidence. Look for loopholes in the information magics like that.

Another example would play off of Pris's new crystal ball of seeing. True seeing does not reveal "mundane" disguises, so if you had a conspirator who fit the general form/features of Heydricus and enhanced that through conventional make ups, you could trick her into believing that Heydricus was up to something. A further double bluff would be to have the conspirator actually be polymorphed as well, so that the true seeing would reveal his "actual" form and make it look as if Heydricus was trying to disguise himself to prevent "anyone" from finding out what he was up to.

This general line of approach could also be enhanced by having the actual character captured and imprisoned, probably shrunk or something on the person who was the duplicate, to "attract" the scrying.

Another thought would be some sort of a demonically possessed Clone of the character. All the Liberators have to have lost sufficent blood/flesh for the Iuzian's to have gotten enough to make a clone that could then be animated through some dark means.

In most comedy of errors romances, the plot generally hinges on three things.

1) Walking into the "room" at exactly the wrong moment.

2) A willingness to believe the worst

3) A refusal to sit down and actually talk.

Elements 1 & 2 are certainly present or easily arranged, 3 would be the toughie. I don't know exactly how much the players would be willing to go along with the formula, but perhaps if you offered one an incentive?

 

[Capellan]

Reading the latest post in the story hour, it occurs to me that you really need some opposition that Dabus can't just Holy Word into oblivion

It seems to me that, if you wanted to give the LoT a nasty time, constructs might be one way to go. Of course, you did use flesh golems recently, didn't you?

Some other ideas:

- how well known are the LoT's backgrounds? In other words, are the minions of Iuz going to be aware of Grandma's farm? If so, a quick BST retaliation might be in order. The Iuzians could pop in, kill a few people, and leave the rest a message: every time the LoT BST them, they'll BST someone the LoT care about. Other targets include Heydricus' many conquests, random churches of Tritherion - that sort of thing.

- if you can't beat them, be them. The Iuzians use a few alter self spells to impersonate the LoT and dirty their reputations. Obvious things to do include massacring innocents and extorting protection money from Tenhian villages. Less obvious things to do include having a faux Pris engage in, uh ... "wanton behaviour" ... somewhere that the news is bound to get back to her family. Or have a fake Heydricus boast of bedding Pris - in considerable detail - somewhere the story will get back to Anon. The scene of a furious Anon challenging Heydricus to a duel in defence of Pris' honour could be quite entertaining.

More comments as they occur to me.

 

[(contact)]

Brilliant. I love the false Pris destroying Pris' reputation. What would Anon think? Heh, heh, heh.

 

[Capellan]

Brilliant. I love the false Pris destroying Pris' reputation. What would Anon think? Heh, heh, heh.

I actually like the fake Heydricus idea better I think there's more potential in "Righteous Anon Defending His Lover's Honour". For one thing, it should be a great in game way for Heydricus to find out about Pris' "diary entry".

 

[Barastrondo]

Y'know, if Anon considers sleeping with a Holy Liberator's girlfriend (not his lawful wedded wife, merely his girlfriend) blasphemy, I dunno if he'd raise arms against a Holy Liberator. (Plus, the false account of bedding Pris "in considerable detail" might actually, um, not fool Anon if his Wisdom is where it should be and if the conspirators think Prisantha is more... experienced than she was. Of course, the Iuzians might always have been scrying on Pris and Anon... you naughty people!)

Still, even if it's not that much of a Liberators-crushing victory to have a false wanton Pris utterly crushing poor Anon's high esteem of that wonderful Enchantress of Verbobonc who just made him see life in a whole new light, it's still enough of a petty evil to make an Iuzian giggle.

It had occurred to me earlier that if I was a member of the He Man Heydricus Haters Club, and Heydricus' conquest of my girl had left me feeling both angry and kind of impotent, I'd probably be trying to get revenge by adding Prisantha to my list of conquests. It would make a slighted fellow feel better on both accounts — revenge, and who's the studmuffin now? A pre-arranged fling with a false Prisantha would be perhaps not quite as satisfying (well, in a "genuine revenge" sense — we'll leave Prisantha's lack of ranks in Romance out of it), but a heck of a lot safer.

After all, Chendl's version of Dangerous Liaisons features a John Malkovich who rips up giants. The average HMHHC member doesn't really want it to come to a duel.

At any rate, I'm of the opinion that false Pris (which is an excellent idea), if used, absolutely must be bad, bad, bad... we're talking "having a party and all the gladiators are invited" bad. The kind of outrageous behavior that's so over-the-top, the nobility takes it totally at face value. ("Well, of course that Prisantha behaves like that — she is an Enchantress, and you know what Enchantresses are like. Trafficking with Entities from Beyond and all that, you hear. Probably has that fifth-rate conjurer she travels with summoning incubi for her, I'm sure. I can only imagine the sorts of poxes she might be spreading around... dreadful behavior, really.")

Mages are supposed to have larger-than-life reputations, after all.

 

[Capellan]

Y'know, if Anon considers sleeping with a Holy Liberator's girlfriend (not his lawful wedded wife, merely his girlfriend) blasphemy, I dunno if he'd raise arms against a Holy Liberator. (Plus, the false account of bedding Pris "in considerable detail" might actually, um, not fool Anon if his Wisdom is where it should be and if the conspirators think Prisantha is more... experienced than she was. Of course, the Iuzians might always have been scrying on Pris and Anon... you naughty people!)

I agree Anon would not raise arms if he believed Heydricus and Pris were an item. But I specifically would want Anon not to believe that Pris and Heydricus were together. The idea would be that he would think Heydricus was publically lying about Pris, and casting her name in the mud.

And from Anon's POV, I doubt a person who did that would merit any respect - Holy Liberator or no.

At any rate, I'm of the opinion that false Pris (which is an excellent idea), if used, absolutely must be bad, bad, bad... we're talking "having a party and all the gladiators are invited" bad. The kind of outrageous behavior that's so over-the-top, the nobility takes it totally at face value.

Without going into details that would offend Eric's Grandmother, I suggest I, Claudius as a good source of inspiration for this kind of thing. The behaviour of Claudius' wife (Messina?), especially her "competition", would be very suitable for the kind of thing Barastrondo is suggesting.

 

[Urbanmech]

I think Barastrondo has the right idea. Sully Pris's image and maybe eventually the Crown will have to take steps to distance itself from the LoT. Can't be supporting that kind of behavior even though they do kill Iuzans.

I'm sure the HMHHC would be thrilled if all of a sudden Heydricus's aid is pulled out from under him. Then again Heydricus might not even notice since you can make good money killing Iuzans and taking their stuff.

One thing that makes the Liberators different from other SH groups like the Defenders of Daybreak or Eadric and friends is that they really don't depend on or have incredibly strong ties to any kingdom. Sure it is nice to have support from King Belvor, but these are the people who stomped through the Temple of Elemental Evil without help so they really don't need any hand holding now. This independence makes it difficult to come up with political plots that catch the players notice.

I keep wracking my brain for more HMHHC tatics but I just can't see Heydricus caring that much, or if he does using magic of some sort to ferret out the problem and kill it dead. Maybe the HMHHC just needs to hire a bevy of bards through intermediaries and spread all kinds of ghastly rumors about the LoT.

A few songs and tales about Heydricus building an army to liberate Tenh and then the rest of Greyhawk. How Prisantha is a wanton trollop using her magic to sate her twisted needs, when she isn't out twisting the will of the people to support Heydricus. Heydricus and Pris are helping Thromel so that they can gain control of the throne after Belvor dies (some nobles probably already think this is true). Jespo is more dangerous than the Iuzans because he can't control his summoning of dark things, or that he doesn't intentionally to torment the local populace etc...

 

[(contact)]

Barastrondo wrote:
Of course, the Iuzians might always have been scrying on Pris and Anon... you naughty people!

It didn't really translate in the logs, but the scene where Pris told Anon she could scry him at will? So . . . damn . . . funny. Anon looked *mortified* and quickly glanced at his palm, then at Pris, as the realization that he'd have to change his . . . er, morning habits crossed his face.

THEN he said "you can?"

Barbrawlstrondo wrote:
The average HMHHC member doesn't really want it to come to a duel.

Damn skippy, but they would LOVE to find someone who they think *could* beat Heydricus, and convince HIM that Heydricus boned his girlfriend(s)/daughter(s)/wife.

Barbrawlstrondo also wrote:At any rate, I'm of the opinion that false Pris (which is an excellent idea), if used, absolutely must be bad, bad, bad... we're talking "having a party and all the gladiators are invited" bad. The kind of outrageous behavior that's so over-the-top, the nobility takes it totally at face value. [/b]

Hee, hee hee.

Barbrawlstrondo went on to opine sagely:
I agree Anon would not raise arms if he believed Heydricus and Pris were an item. But I specifically would want Anon not to believe that Pris and Heydricus were together. The idea would be that he would think Heydricus was publically lying about Pris, and casting her name in the mud.

It's tricky-- we (the LoT) allow so many anachronisms into our games for ease of play and humor value (like Jespo yelling "yeah-yeah, get some get some!" in his weenie little voice when his summoned lions maul somebody), that it can get a little sticky when a character like Anon suddenly wants to stand on an archaic principle of honor. This is particularly true in a game that (on the face of it at least) eschews sexism in any form.

BUT, it is a classic fantasy and historical romance theme-- Anon, the gallant protector throwing his life away on the point of his better's sword, in order to prove his faithfulness to his lady love (alas, who loves him but little). Heh, heh. It is even funnier when you realize that Pris could just *disintegrate* Anon, and be done with him, but his ethos might force him to essentially kill himself so that her honor is not besmirched.

I may fudge Anon closer to this archetype in order to force a duel between him and Heydricus-- Of course, this can only happen after Heydricus finds out about Pris and Anon, when he is good and jealous.

*IF* I can get Heydricus to fight and kill a cleric of Tritherion in good standing with his god, Heydricus will be an ex-Holy Liberator. And that, my friends is real Rat Bastardy.

I love the idea, and I'm going for it. Thanks!

The Giangantic City-Dwelling Fighting Robot said:
I keep wracking my brain for more HMHHC tatics but I just can't see Heydricus caring that much, or if he does using magic of some sort to ferret out the problem and kill it dead.

That's exactly what he'd do.

The thirteen year old spiky haired kid piloting him went on to scream:
Maybe the HMHHC just needs to hire a bevy of bards through intermediaries and spread all kinds of ghastly rumors about the LoT.

I think that's perfect-- the HMHHC has always been (in my mind at least) a group of pissed-off low level aristocrats who will have to resort to behind-the-scenes machinations to get their revenge. Was it Capellan who mentioned Dangerous Liasons? That's a *perfect* template for these guys.

When Tritherion warned Heydricus about them, what he meant was "the Iuzians have met some people who can feed them personal information about you, and help set you up."

Which makes me think about this idea: What about one of Heydricus' ladies turning into a spy for the HMHHC? Maia is the only one that the story has spent much time with.

What could she do to fuc-k Heydricus over-- take him up on his offer to visit Cur'ruth? MWah

hah

hah.

Heydricus and Pris are helping Thromel so that they can gain control of the throne after Belvor dies (some nobles probably already think this is true)....

PERFECT. This will 1) be widely belived, 2) lend support to Butrain as the only likely alternate for Thrommel, and 3) Poison the Furyondian nobility against the Liberators.

By the way, am I the only one that was CACKLING EVILLY when Pris (on her own violition, I swear) SET JESPO UP to be under the sway of Butrain and Gwendolyn? Do you think they will pass that one up? And how long before Jespo lets it slip that Thrommel is alive and well in Tenh? How long before they get a mole into Jespo's bed (and adventuring life)? How long before they turn Jespo's loyalty by simply BEING NICE to him?

<Remember, the Iuzians know that the group is in Cur'ruth, because Jespo told Keriann, who told the Iuzian in charge of the Cadaverous Ones. He kept it secret in order to keep the kill for himself, but since the group did not move to find him once his undead were defeated, the Fras is now out of the bag.>

 

[Capellan]

cackle

And I may fudge Anon closer to the "protect the lady" type in order to force a duel between him and Heydricus-- *IF* I can get Heydricus to fight and kill a cleric of Tritherion in good standing with his god, Heydricus will be an ex-Holy Liberator, and that, my friends is real Rat Bastardy.

I love the idea, and I'm going for it. Thanks!

You're welcome.

Of course, I'm the DM who once tricked a Paladin into cheating on his wife with a Chaotic Evil Priestess because he thought it would save the kingdom, so this is familiar territory

For the record, the mention of Dangerous Liaisons came from Barastrondo.

Oh, and ... hee ... you know another way the HMHHC could upset Heydricus? An imposter who was, shall we say ... "incapable of completing his mission" in the bedroom. If a bevy of women started spreading the word that the Great Heydricus was ... well, a complete flop ... I bet that would get his attention.

The great thing is, as far as the women know, it's all true. And tracking down the impersonator would be almost impossible, unless the search criteria was very carefully worded. "Find the person impersonating me" would probably turn up a bunch of actors, for instance.

 

[(contact)]

An imposter who was, shall we say ... "incapable of completing his mission" in the bedroom. If a bevy of women started spreading the word that the Great Heydricus was ... well, a complete flop ... I bet that would get his attention.

OH

MY

God.

Yes. Perfect.