To kill or not to kill (the party.) That is the question!

[Psion]

Okay, if you are Damien AKA Neimad the Half Elf Paladin, shoo!


I am in an intersting situation. My players are staring into the face of death. It is not enough that retrieved the girl that this archmage kidnapped (he collects beautiful girls... based on the demented sorcerer in on of Clark Ashton Smith's stories.) Nope, they have to take him on.

The party is 11th-12th level. The mage that they are taking on is a Bloodless* Wiz 14 / Acm** 3, armed with several rune spells***, via which he keeps constant track of where they are and what they are doing. After they got his victim to safety, they returned to his tower to go take him on. Considering the opposition, this could be bad.

I am thinking that perhaps he takes an interest in the party's female elven rogue, and use that as an excuse to spare them the nastier area blast spells so he doesn't damage the new merchandise. But even then, it seems like the majority of the party members would get captured or killed.

Or I could rule he leaves or just isn't there. But that strains credulity... the party has been stomping around his sanctum and he is not going to just give it up.

So, has anyone else been in a situation where the party was destined to get in over their head? I'm feeling a little merciful since I did sort of draw them to it, but killing the mage is beyond what was necessary.

So what would you do? This is somewhat rhetorical, since I already have a basic idea of what I am going to do (i.e., try to capture without killing most of the party and let the dice fall where they may, and come up with a decent reason that he doesn't just kill them.) but I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks.



* - Bloodless template from CC2.
** - Archmage Prestige Class, from FRCS.
*** - Rune spells, from R&R.

 

[Nightfall]

Whoa!!! Bloodless AND an archmage!!

Psion, you put me to shame! Heck this guy might even out do my lich I created using Necromancy, BoEM, T&B, and R&R.

Personally I think what you should do is this. He decides he's going to extract revenge on his would be saviors. Mainly so he can do his little ability thingie on the divine warriors/followers with good looks. Then he'll probably either kill or enchant the rest (he DOES have that ability remember...) to send out and RETRIEVE the girl. Any that REALLY piss him off...well consider them fodder for his spells.

That help? God you are EVIL Psion. I'm glad I'm on your side. You'd make a VERY bad enemy.

 

[Psion]

Aw, shucks!

Actually, Sarlac's creation was quite serendipitous. He is actually only the second ranking member of a cabal of arcane spellcasters the party has been wrangling with. He is probably the most powerful, but his inherent decadence has placed him somewhat behind a Wizard / Summoner / Acolyte of the Skin who is the true string puller.

Anyway, after I read the referred to Clark Ashton Smith stories, I created him as a wizard who liked to petrify beautiful women and collect them, resenting the transience of beauty (which is a theme I let the party find at scenes of his crimes). I knew he was long lived, but never really paid much attention to how he remained ageless.

When creating his tower, I decided I would throw a conundrum creature in for variety, saying that it was one of his attempts to replicate a curse he had seen elsewhere. When I was working on this, the bloodless template was right there. Bells went off in my head. I never cared for the bloodless before, but it was too perfect for the image I had built up to that point: an immortal wizard with an obsession for beauty, who took slaves (now I know: willing slaves, with a good reason for having a high charisma.) Everything just snapped into place.

Now that I think of it, perhaps if the party loses, they might become conundrum creatures. Heh... that should be interesting pickle to get out of.

Edit: I guess what I really need is an "ace in the hole" for the party. Regardless of the outcome, I need a way that, if they are clever, they can prevail without it seeming like too much of a giveaway.

 

[Nightfall]

I haven't read THAT much Ashton Clark Smith...

But I did like his writing style.

The conundrum curse sounds like a good way to go about it. I'd just suggest you make the party into his willing slaves. He's dedecant enough to warrant it. But the curse and possibly enchanting the party to HIS desires, that to me speaks depths of about his depravity. Another idea, is maybe have him curse them into shadow form. The combination of the the two might REALLY upset the party. Does he have spell focuses in Enchantment and Necromancy?

 

[Nightfall]

Oh that's easy!

Have them come across some spell or creature that ALSO drains charisma. Remember what happens if he goes below 18. Personally I'd just enslave the party and have the players write up new characters who job it is to release the OLD ones. But if that isn't to your liking, remember he IS outsider, therefore he's subjected to the same considerations.

 

[Psion]

You're pretty sharp with the rules to know that he will have 2 spell focuses.

Nope, his focuses are transmutation and evocation. Transmutation was a given; his MO was petrifying his victims.

Evocation came about because I threw in some traps a few adventures ago before I had him fully written up that suggested he was handy with evocation effects.

He doesn't really cast too many of his own enchantments. He relies on his natural charm, but tends to petrify anyone he wants to stay put.

 

[Psion]

Re: Oh that's easy!

Have them come across some spell or creature that ALSO drains charisma. Remember what happens if he goes below 18.

Yeah, I was thinking something like that. Makes a convenient achilles heel.

But what drains charisma. Bloodless are immune to poison IIRC (actually most ability drain IIRC.)

Personally I'd just enslave the party and have the players write up new characters who job it is to release the OLD ones.

Funny, we have an alternate group for these players already. Actually two. One we started recently is only 4th level... I don't think they are up to it unless I really do some cinematic style david-and-goliath scenario. The backups we used to play were basically in-training backups for the current group, around 10th level or so (the ones that are running through RA that I mentioned a few weeks ago... with the Satyr monk, etc.)

 

[Nightfall]

It comes with the terriority.

You're pretty sharp with the rules to know that he will have 2 spell focuses.

Well it helps that I read a lot of magic books. I have the (so far) complete set of Mongoose' Arcane line, BoEm, Magic of Faerun, R&R (given don't you know), so I know something of wizards and their feats. Not mention I know most wizards (at least those that are not specialists) tend to have a couple spell focuses, at least due to OGL restrictions (other wise there, there would be a LOT of Greater Spell Focuses flying around! ) I usually play clerics but I have some flair for arcane, but rarely bard.

Nope, his focuses are transmutation and evocation. Transmutation was a given; his MO was petrifying his victims.

Oh forgot about THAT I'm used to staying way from abjuring and transmuting stuff. Most of my specialist were either enchanters or necromancers.

Evocation came about because I threw in some traps a few adventures ago before I had him fully written up that suggested he was handy with evocation effects.

He doesn't really cast too many of his own enchantments. He relies on his natural charm, but tends to petrify anyone he wants to stay put.

Hmmm well just a thought. I guess I just figured he try to charm them either through spells powered with some spell focuses OR maybe a wand of dominate monster that was empowered and/or maximized. Just a thought.

 

[Scarab]

Can someone give me a brief description of what a Bloodless is? Sounds really interesting. *adds CC2 to shopping list*

 

[Psion]

Can someone give me a brief description of what a Bloodless is? Sounds really interesting. *adds CC2 to shopping list*

I doubt I'll beat Nightfall to this, but basically the bloodless is a template that, through means ao a true ritual, achieves a sort of immortality. The process leaves them without blood, and they become outsiders. They attain a supernatural beauty, but spirits continually tear at their soul, causing chaisma loss. They can, however, drain charisma from others, and any charima loss comes from this loss.