Transfering Pregnancy

[The_Universe]

Thanks for the thoughts. Definetely helps.

No problem. After Xath and I wrote them up, I ended up using the 7th level version in my campaign (though we initially only intended to use the 3rd level version) to have a major bad NPC steal a child from one of the PCs. It was *heartbreakingly* cruel, which is a good thing for a bad guy (or gal, in this case) to be.

 

[ARandomGod]

No problem. After Xath and I wrote them up, I ended up using the 7th level version in my campaign (though we initially only intended to use the 3rd level version) to have a major bad NPC steal a child from one of the PCs. It was *heartbreakingly* cruel, which is a good thing for a bad guy (or gal, in this case) to be.

But... and this really throws me, why did the NPC want the child? It seems the spell is practically designed to produce an abortion, why not just destroy the child instead (OK, because it's more fun to have a rescue), and why would the NPC want to become pregnant with the child? I mean, as someone capable of running an evil NPC, I can think of a reason or two to want to be the mother of a predestined important child, but in general I think I'd just have a minion bear the child.

 

[The_Universe]

But... and this really throws me, why did the NPC want the child? It seems the spell is practically designed to produce an abortion, why not just destroy the child instead (OK, because it's more fun to have a rescue), and why would the NPC want to become pregnant with the child? I mean, as someone capable of running an evil NPC, I can think of a reason or two to want to be the mother of a predestined important child, but in general I think I'd just have a minion bear the child.

Mostly, the NPC didn't want the PC to have it, as it *may have been* a child important to prophecy (prophecies being notably nonspecific like that). So, if the child had died, that would have been - but it was ultimately more demoralizing to know that the child would live, it's essential nature changed, as a ward of evil, twisted in both mind and body. Secondarily, in order to sufficiently alter the child's nature, it would have to be borne by the specific NPC (she was a reptilian custom race in the campaign). Any old serving wench would have left the child *human*, which means it would have been far less devastating: and there's the added psychological bonus that makes it *that much harder* for the PCs to want to kill her, knowing that she bears the child of one of their own....

Let's face it - it would suck if you lost a child you wanted. How much worse is it to have that same child stolen, altered, and raised by your worst enemy to hate and revile its "real" parents? It is just as lost to you - but instead of merely being dead, it has become a potential enemy. Heartrending.

 

[ARandomGod]

Let's face it - it would suck if you lost a child you wanted. How much worse is it to have that same child stolen, altered, and raised by your worst enemy to hate and revile its "real" parents? It is just as lost to you - but instead of merely being dead, it has become a potential enemy. Heartrending.

Yea I see that.

Well, all except for the less likely to kill her because she's carrying my child. I'd kill away.
OK, fine, if I could capture I would. But only if it were easy. If there was a greater chance of the NPC getting away because I was trying a capture, then it's set swords on "merciless".

 

[The_Universe]

Yea I see that.

Well, all except for the less likely to kill her because she's carrying my child. I'd kill away.
OK, fine, if I could capture I would. But only if it were easy. If there was a greater chance of the NPC getting away because I was trying a capture, then it's set swords on "merciless".

Maybe you would just kill away - but that would be a tough (and interesting) character choice to have to work through in the game, which is sort of what I was going for.

 

[ARandomGod]

Maybe you would just kill away - but that would be a tough (and interesting) character choice to have to work through in the game, which is sort of what I was going for.

And that's ME. What a character might do is interesting and helps define the character. Arguably people often play their characters similiar to themselves (or how they see themselves). But not always, and it's interesting/fun to play these things out, either way.

 

[The_Universe]

And that's ME. What a character might do is interesting and helps define the character. Arguably people often play their characters similiar to themselves (or how they see themselves). But not always, and it's interesting/fun to play these things out, either way.

Exactly.