When the Charm Person ends...

[Gruns]

Here's the situation:
My PCs were being chased by a minor BBEG, which lead them into a kobold cave. Inside, they stumbled through a few traps, and turned a corner to find two "ready-for-anything" kobolds. PCs killed them fairly quickly, as you might expect. However, by the time that fight was over, the BBEG shows up with his cohort. A fight breaks out that lasts several rounds. By the time it's over, the cohort is dead, and the BBEG managed to flee. One round before this happens, one of the PCs(Wizard) notices at the top of the nearby stairs, a small horde(9) of kobolds kind of watching in bewilderment. The Wizard casts Charm Person on, the "correct" kobold. When the BBEG flees, the PCs look at the kobolds. One of them yelps and fires his crossbow. The Charmed kobold scolds the archer, ("Whoa! Stop shooting my pals!") and there is some slight chaos and arguing amongst the kobolds.... Long story short, the PC's roleplayed well, and convinced the kobolds that the BBEG killed the 2 initial kobolds, and were trying to take over the cave to use as a base of operations, yadda yadda...
Anyway, the kobolds are now indifferent to the PCs, (Except for their new best friend for the next 3 hours). They went and got the king, and that roll went perfectly, so the king also buys the story. The PCs were throwing around the idea of assaulting a fire giant that they saw on their run to the cave. (This would likely end in many dead kobolds and PCs) [Session Ended at this point]
The kobold king and elders are going to nix this idea, deeming it far too foolish. The fire giant isn't much of a threat anyway, as it can't get into the cavern. They will however suggest that they hunt down the local rival lizardmen tribe.
Now (finally) the question is, what happens when the Charm wears off? Does the kobold realize he was charmed? If so, he'll naturally not like it. How would you make this affect the PC:Kobold relationship when news gets out? Back to hostile? Another check at -5? Suggestions?

Later!
Gruns

 

[Jack Simth]

He'll probably be able to figure it out ("Wait a minute.... why was I so keen on those guys? I've never met them before...." DC 10 Int roll "A charm?") but he won't be able to do too terribly much about it, as he has introduced them to the King, who they have also convinced (Diplomacy, presumeably, not another Charm?) so that, even if the original charmed kobold figures it out, they have already convinced the king ("What - you changed your mind? A charm? Yeah right; they seemed convincing to me"); the charmed kobold might be able to make a diplomacy roll (DC set by the PC's earlier roll) to undo their work, but how likely is he to pass?

 

[MatthewJHanson]

As a DM I've been fairly gernerious when it came to charms wearing off. If the PCs have treated the charmed person well durring the duration of the spell, there was not a sudden backlash when the charm affect ends.

One thing that just occured to me that I have not tried would be to allow the Kobold in question a Sense Motive check (DC 25) to allow it to realize it was being magically influenced.

 

[argo]

For me this usually depends on just how far the PC's push their charmed friend. If they try to manipulate him into doing something outside his nature then there is a good chance that once the spell wears off he will start to wonder why he did what he did and that will lead to the realization he was manipulated. If OTOH they give him the soft sell then when it is all over there is a good chance he won't be inclined to think too deeply about the whys and wherefores and so won't realize what happened, espically if they back it all up with some good social skill checks and/or equal exchanges of gifts for their new "friend".

As it stands now the way you've decribed things all they have asked him to do on their behalf is delay the outset of combat for a few rounds of parley (not at all unreasonable under the circumstances) and then escort them to his leader where they pleaded their case before the court (again, something a sentry guard might reasonably do). So just with what you've given me so far I would probably not have the kobold realize he was charmed. Now, if the PC's were do do something like ask the kobold for a map of the cave's traps and defenses "just so they won't stumble on any accedientally" or (and this sounds more likely given what you said) ask the kobold to help them convince the leader to attack the Fire Giant and thus risk the lives of his brothers: those are the sorts of things that will make the kobold go "whoah! Why in the nine hells did I do that?" once the spell wears off.

Of course there is also that pesky DC 25 Sense Motive check for one of the other kobolds to notice the charm. But a kobold besides the one who was charmed has to do that.

So far is sounds as if your PC's have been using Charm the way it was meant to be used, I say let them go with it. Later.

 

[Saeviomagy]

BTB, if you fail a save against a spell, then unless it has some obvious effect, you don't know that you failed the save.

If the kobold in question saw the spell being cast and he has spellcraft, he might work out what the spell was. One of his buddies might do so too.

Otherwise, if he's been treated well, his real reaction to his 'friend' might actually be friendly. He may ask what the spell was (even while the spell is ongoing), but he's not suddenly going to decide that his 'friend' is his enemy...

 

[kjenks]

Saeviomagy has it right. Without Spellcraft, the ex-charmee might never figure it out. Even with Spellcraft, the ex-charmee might justify it to himself, like, "Well, sure he cast a Charm spell on me, but I liked him anyway."

There once was a girl I was quite enamored with. Now she's long gone. Was that a Charm spell or just infatuation?

 

[Gruns]

Thanks.

I let the king and his entourage roll for the "See if he's under the influence" check, but they failed that. Most of the other kobolds weren't advanced enough to even have a chance at Sense Motive DC25, so no roll for them.
PCs made a Diplomacy check with the King from Unfriendly to Indifferent with a decent roll, so the king is ok with them being there, so long as they don't do anything out of line. But wouldn't mind if they left.
Problem is, the PCs probably wont leave. They used many of their spells during the BBEG fight, and are still fairly injured. A night amongst the kobolds is likely. When they wake up, I guess I'll have the formerly charmed guy kind of just go along with the horde...

As a side note, I like to talk in stupid voices when roleplaying. I find it hard not to make the kobold king (a sorcerer) talk like Yoda when he dispenses his words of wisdom. ("The fire giant, too powerful for us, would be.") Too many Revenge of the Sith trailers for me...

Thanks!
Gruns