Beholder Quest!

[MadGreenSon]

It has finally happened. As I mentioned in a previous thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335311) the possible became reality and a freshly level 20 Celestial Mystic sacrificed that 20th level to rescue the BBEG's Beholder/footstool from a life of misery and suffering via Sanctify the Wicked.

The player (my roommate) is fully willing to take the newly sanctified Beholder on as a cohort as his most recent cohort was murdered most foully by the bad guys a few sessions ago and we have some campaign downtime anyway.

The downtime side-quest is basically going to be a rebuilding/retraining thing for the Beholder (we'll have to actually name him now, the BBEG called him Eyeball) as other than the Sanctified template all he'll have is some RHD and a bite attack. He won't even have a reliable substitute for hands.

So. this Beholder will be going on a Hero's Quest to the legendary Gates of Dawn to make of himself a better being so as to better serve his fellow sapients and spread justice!

Any good ideas on things to throw into the quest?
Other than the obvious social problems of being a Beholder, of course.:smallbiggrin:

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

Make sure he wears a nice hat. If people see a nasty eye tyrant floating around they'll think he's a monster, but if he's wearing clothing then people will say, "oh, he's a person, neat."

Of course, this would be your first quest. Where do you find a hat with a 36-inch brim?

[Grollub]

Make sure he wears a nice hat. If people see a nasty eye tyrant floating around they'll think he's a monster, but if he's wearing clothing then people will say, "oh, he's a person, neat."

Of course, this would be your first quest. Where do you find a hat with a 36-inch brim?

just make sure he can poke his eyes out thru the hat to shoot people

[Malroth]

an Australian Hobbly-Bob would be a good model for a beholders functional combat ready hat.

[Honest Tiefling]

Depending on what your friend wants to do, have him become the terror that floats in the night, for he is the night, for he is vengeance! If he can find a way to become smaller, sneaking around might be more effective.

[Phelix-Mu]

Alright, so here is my take on it.

1.) Let's pick some type of archetypal sequence for the beholder. It already actually fits one; enemy soldier spared, converted, redeemed, and now seeks acceptance among a new people. As such, think of the beholder in light of a barbarian getting exposed to civilization for the first time. Normal people, and all this goodness, while wondrous and appealing, may also be foreign and frightening. The beholder will probably have lots of questions, not understand social etiquette, make really embarrassing social faux pas, and so forth, until it gets acclimated.

2.) So, the current step is one of integration into the new "tribe." This, as you have rightly selected, often takes the form of a test or trial designed to show the commitment of the subject to the ideals of the new group. Since there seems to be some kind of exalted theme going on, I will pitch the following:
- A roaming solar meets the beholder near the Gates of Dawn. The beholder, as one might expect, has been met with a mixture of curiosity and caution among those that populate the Heavens. The solar, filled with both and motivated by a desire to help the newly sanctified being to find a place among the forces of good, seeks to help the beholder leave behind the psychological trappings of its old life, and accept the burdens of its new calling.
- The initial missions are innocuous, and role play oriented, focusing on establishing the importance of escaping the normal manifestations of the various beholder neuroses/psychoses. Namely, acknowledgement of the special nature of all beings (even commoners and such), acceptance of the separation between form and value (normal beholders each view themselves as the perfect specimen of beholder-hood, the only beings of value...this would take the form of a bit of role play in which the beholder is polymorphed into a different form), and the recognition of freedom and will as important things (this is a good opportunity to rescue slaves or something).
- Finally, the point of being both powerful and good is to accept the responsibility to defend the less powerful and rid the world of evil whenever possible. This, to me, speaks of a classic venture into evil territory to rescue someone or symbolically establish the power of good even in the midst of evil. Perhaps an important npc (a princess!) needs to venture into evil territory to retrieve something (an ingredient in a potion to cure a dire ailment or something). The party is given escort duty.

3.) If more is needed, the next step is for the community (the party) to welcome the beholder and formalize their acceptance of the beholder's role. If the beholder is a buff caster, the beholder proceeds to buff everyone in a kind of bonding ritual.

[Ziegander]

Alright, so here is my take on it.

1.) Let's pick some type of archetypal sequence for the beholder. It already actually fits one; enemy soldier spared, converted, redeemed, and now seeks acceptance among a new people. As such, think of the beholder in light of a barbarian getting exposed to civilization for the first time. Normal people, and all this goodness, while wondrous and appealing, may also be foreign and frightening. The beholder will probably have lots of questions, not understand social etiquette, make really embarrassing social faux pas, and so forth, until it gets acclimated.

2.) So, the current step is one of integration into the new "tribe." This, as you have rightly selected, often takes the form of a test or trial designed to show the commitment of the subject to the ideals of the new group. Since there seems to be some kind of exalted theme going on, I will pitch the following:
- A roaming solar meets the beholder near the Gates of Dawn. The beholder, as one might expect, has been met with a mixture of curiosity and caution among those that populate the Heavens. The solar, filled with both and motivated by a desire to help the newly sanctified being to find a place among the forces of good, seeks to help the beholder leave behind the psychological trappings of its old life, and accept the burdens of its new calling.
- The initial missions are innocuous, and role play oriented, focusing on establishing the importance of escaping the normal manifestations of the various beholder neuroses/psychoses. Namely, acknowledgement of the special nature of all beings (even commoners and such), acceptance of the separation between form and value (normal beholders each view themselves as the perfect specimen of beholder-hood, the only beings of value...this would take the form of a bit of role play in which the beholder is polymorphed into a different form), and the recognition of freedom and will as important things (this is a good opportunity to rescue slaves or something).
- Finally, the point of being both powerful and good is to accept the responsibility to defend the less powerful and rid the world of evil whenever possible. This, to me, speaks of a classic venture into evil territory to rescue someone or symbolically establish the power of good even in the midst of evil. Perhaps an important npc (a princess!) needs to venture into evil territory to retrieve something (an ingredient in a potion to cure a dire ailment or something). The party is given escort duty.

3.) If more is needed, the next step is for the community (the party) to welcome the beholder and formalize their acceptance of the beholder's role. If the beholder is a buff caster, the beholder proceeds to buff everyone in a kind of bonding ritual.

This is just a really great post.

[MadGreenSon]

just make sure he can poke his eyes out thru the hat to shoot people

He'll only need his eyes to see. The Sanctified template took away all the signature eye-beams of the beholder and replaced them with one that can only effect evil (Eye Laser with untyped energy damage)



Alright, so here is my take on it.

1.) Let's pick some type of archetypal sequence for the beholder. It already actually fits one; enemy soldier spared, converted, redeemed, and now seeks acceptance among a new people. As such, think of the beholder in light of a barbarian getting exposed to civilization for the first time. Normal people, and all this goodness, while wondrous and appealing, may also be foreign and frightening. The beholder will probably have lots of questions, not understand social etiquette, make really embarrassing social faux pas, and so forth, until it gets acclimated.


This is the stuff of awesome roleplay and luckily they party is good friends with a sage-like old cleric who often advises them on tricky issues who'll also make a good mentor-figure/Obi-Wan so that the player will not have to RP talking to himself (as both Sanctifier and Sanctifiee)

The Beholder will also have the novelty of being called by name and even if some treat him as a monster, at least they'll be taking him seriously and not using him as a gofer/footstool.


2.) So, the current step is one of integration into the new "tribe." This, as you have rightly selected, often takes the form of a test or trial designed to show the commitment of the subject to the ideals of the new group. Since there seems to be some kind of exalted theme going on, I will pitch the following:
- A roaming solar meets the beholder near the Gates of Dawn. The beholder, as one might expect, has been met with a mixture of curiosity and caution among those that populate the Heavens. The solar, filled with both and motivated by a desire to help the newly sanctified being to find a place among the forces of good, seeks to help the beholder leave behind the psychological trappings of its old life, and accept the burdens of its new calling.

Ah hah! I was as yet unsure of where to locate the Gates, but having them be in Celestia makes sense and having them be the start of the quest rather than the end will be even better.

Having a bemused "angel on his shoulder" will be kinda neat, so I'm entirely using that. The old cleric will not be able to leave good-guy HQ for the quest anyway.

Maybe each mission that the Solar sends him on requires him to pass through the Gate to various places for each mission. After he is done, he'll reappear at the Gate, after appropriate denouement.



- The initial missions are innocuous, and role play oriented, focusing on establishing the importance of escaping the normal manifestations of the various beholder neuroses/psychoses. Namely, acknowledgement of the special nature of all beings (even commoners and such), acceptance of the separation between form and value (normal beholders each view themselves as the perfect specimen of beholder-hood, the only beings of value...this would take the form of a bit of role play in which the beholder is polymorphed into a different form), and the recognition of freedom and will as important things (this is a good opportunity to rescue slaves or something).


Yesss... This is good stuff, I've never run a "redemption quest" before, these ideas are gold for me. I usually focus more on putting players through hell than lifting them to the heavens.

I can just see it now, the Solar acting in a Rod Serling like role to intro each mission the Beholder is sent on...




- Finally, the point of being both powerful and good is to accept the responsibility to defend the less powerful and rid the world of evil whenever possible. This, to me, speaks of a classic venture into evil territory to rescue someone or symbolically establish the power of good even in the midst of evil. Perhaps an important npc (a princess!) needs to venture into evil territory to retrieve something (an ingredient in a potion to cure a dire ailment or something). The party is given escort duty.


The Sanctified Beholder escorting or rescuing a princess? Anyone else picturing a snarky, kung-fu princess like Fiona from Shrek?:smallbiggrin:

"So... The brave defender sent to assist/rescue me is a Beholder?!?"

"Am I being punk'd?"

All humor aside, this will be the big crunch time for him, when he'll need to step up and show that more than simply becoming good, he's willing to stand up and defend his new principles and new way of life

Assuming he succeeds, he will be able to emerge from the Gates of Dawn for the first time, finally having completed the rebuild/retraining quest and traded in his vestigial RHD for class levels.




3.) If more is needed, the next step is for the community (the party) to welcome the beholder and formalize their acceptance of the beholder's role. If the beholder is a buff caster, the beholder proceeds to buff everyone in a kind of bonding ritual.

Then the formal welcoming ceremony, etc. This part would be in a game session proper with the whole group there.

Damn. Have you done this kind of quest before?

[Phelix-Mu]

Hmm. Redemption, not quite. There was a dryad lover of pc that sold her soul to be free of her tree, but I don't think she was ever redeemed so much as she just wheedled her way out of her contract.

No, I really just pulled most of that out of my hat just now. Some of it is obviously based heavily on memes, tropes, and archetypes from mythology. My head is basically a big stew pot where all of that stuff is on continuous low boil.

I have, as I noted in other threads, run a couple campaigns that drew some (or heavily) on BoED, and I have great respect for the role play possibilities that that book can provoke around a receptive table. I wish you luck, as this is one of the cooler concepts for redeemed villains that I've heard lately.

[MadGreenSon]

I have, as I noted in other threads, run a couple campaigns that drew some (or heavily) on BoED, and I have great respect for the role play possibilities that that book can provoke around a receptive table. I wish you luck, as this is one of the cooler concepts for redeemed villains that I've heard lately.

This particular campaign draws very heavily on BoED, I don't think a single PC doesn't use something from it. Now that we're verging on Epic things are heating up quite a bit.
They did not quite manage to stop the BBEG in the most recent confrontation, but they've put him on the back foot for the time being and will be doing downtime stuff to further wreck some of his ongoing plans while he's busy putting himself back together.

What's funny, is that the Beholder had always been there as a kind of self-aggrandizing testament to the BBEG's power. He had the feared, fearsome creature and was using it as a gofer and living footstool while his real minions (fiends) did his bidding.

The PCs, especially the Celestial Mystic, had their hearts go out to this abused, but still evil, creature and the Mystic finally took his shot at saving it when the opportunity presented itself.

Now I need a name for him. Even my notes just call the poor thing "Eyeball":smallredface:

[Phelix-Mu]

I would integrate a naming ceremony into the Gates of Dawn trials/rituals. The solar, for instance, could enact some ritual to change the truename of the beholder from [unintelligible beholder name] to something more appropriate for his deeds or newly redeemed form. A title, one proclaiming his sanctified nature, is also probably called for, and such titles often help with characterization, especially in long-running campaigns where characters can use the title to highlight the accomplishments of which they are most proud.

I'll try to think up non-cheesy names for a beholder. The titles would be easier, frankly, as any normal name will probably seem weird for a beholder. A mix of exotic and non-alien, I guess.

EDIT: Oh. What race is the Celestial Mystic? I'd go with a name sounding like the name of that race. The redeemer is an appropriate person to pattern a name after, whether doing so is the beholder's own idea or that of the pc.

[MadGreenSon]

I like the idea of him receiving an new name when it's all over with and he emerges as a new being (figuratively) from the Gates of Dawn.
Maybe something using Draconic and based on what he does during the various stages of the quest? Kind of like a "deed-name" but in funky dragon language.


For his original name I'll take another look through the Beholder section of Lords of Madness and see if there's a names section.


EDIT: The Celestial Mystic PC is human. I'm not sure what kind of name would be good and sound like that... maybe something based off the character's name?

[Phelix-Mu]

If you want the solar to name him, and you don't mind some real world cross-pollination, the celestials often have names derived from a Biblical/Middle Eastern-sounding basis.

Mezrakesh

Alabannon

Tsarakel

Nrashsulah

And so forth. Maybe google Sumerian names; stuff in the vein of Gilgamesh or Enkidu also have a nice ring to them.

Races of the Dragon has the prefix/suffix setup for deed names/name meanings in draconic, at least from what I recall. Honestly, I usually make stuff up; I dislike real world cross-pollination, and I am pretty good at manipulating language to come up with interesting names (like those above).

Another, and perhaps murkier, bit of things is gender identity. The beholder has none, from what I recall, but may consider adopting one in order to fit in. Make sure to underline the beholder's reasoning with some humorous, erroneous assumptions on behalf of the beholder. Like, say the beholder wants the party to use "he" and "his" for it, so maybe, one morning, the party wakes up and gets together. Everyone rolls Spot. Oh, well, you all see a change in the beholder. HE'S DRAWN A FAKE MUSTACHE ABOVE HIS MOUTH.

[MadGreenSon]

If you want the solar to name him, and you don't mind some real world cross-pollination, the celestials often have names derived from a Biblical/Middle Eastern-sounding basis.

Mezrakesh

Alabannon

Tsarakel

Nrashsulah

And so forth. Maybe google Sumerian names; stuff in the vein of Gilgamesh or Enkidu also have a nice ring to them.

Races of the Dragon has the prefix/suffix setup for deed names/name meanings in draconic, at least from what I recall. Honestly, I usually make stuff up; I dislike real world cross-pollination, and I am pretty good at manipulating language to come up with interesting names (like those above).


These are very good suggestions and I'll be taking that into account when the time comes. I will, of course, post the results!


Another, and perhaps murkier, bit of things is gender identity. The beholder has none, from what I recall, but may consider adopting one in order to fit in. Make sure to underline the beholder's reasoning with some humorous, erroneous assumptions on behalf of the beholder. Like, say the beholder wants the party to use "he" and "his" for it, so maybe, one morning, the party wakes up and gets together. Everyone rolls Spot. Oh, well, you all see a change in the beholder. HE'S DRAWN A FAKE MUSTACHE ABOVE HIS MOUTH.

This is gonna be gold after the quest when the character has settled more into the cohort/NPC role more and I live for catching the players off guard with comedy. :smallbiggrin:



For the start of the Quest, these are the basic stats we're working with, I allowed the player to roll Ability score and Hit Points but mostly went with the MM entry and a few additions due to campaign considerations, the Celestial Mystic will likely be lending him a Ring of Telekinesis that he's had around for awhile now to make up for the lack of ability to manipulate the world except with mouth/tongue, unless Irixus gets all noble about it:

Irixus (aka "Footstool" aka "Eyeball")
Beholder
Large Aberration [Good]
Alignment: Lawful Good
Racial Hit Dice: 11d8 +55 (135 hp)
Speed: 5 Flying: 20 (good)
AC: 29 (-1 Size, +5 Dex, +15 Natural) flat footed: 24, touch 14
Attacks: Bite +9 (2d4+2) Beam of Light +12 (Ranged Touch) (5d6 evil only, 60' range)
Fort: +10 Reflex: +8 Will: +14
Strength:15 (+2) Dexterity:21 (+5) Constitution:20 (+5) Intelligence:26 (+9) Wisdom:20 (+5) Charisma:16 (+3)

Skills: Bluff: +9, Hide +18, Intimidate +9, Knowledge: Arcana +22, Knowledge: The Planes +15, Listen +20, Profession: Servant: +18, Search +18, Spot +20 , Spellcraft +22, Survival +18 (+20 following tracks), Use Magic Device: +9

Feats: Improved Initiative, Alertness, Flyby Attack, Great Fortitude, Iron Will

Special Qualities:
Darkvision 60'
All Around Vision
Light Ray (Su)
Aura of Menace (Su) (Will DC: 18 page 187 BoED)
Magic Circle Against Evil (Su) (page 187 BoED)
Tongues (Su) (page 187 BoED)


By the end the goal is to have traded in all but 3 of the RHD for 5 levels of Beholder Mage and 4 of Celestial Mystic.

EDIT: Also, the player of the Celestial Mystic doesn't know this, but his main (non-beholder) character is up for Sainthood and if Irixus does very well in this redemption quest, proving the good judgement of the Mystic, then then Archons of Celestia will be bestowing Sainthood on him.

[Phelix-Mu]

Make sure not to undersell the saint thing. It's a very lofty recognition, and if it's just a bonus on top of everything else, it may seem a bit of a side order. Which would be a shame. Might be worth giving the saint thing its own bit of subplot later on, especially since, after that, there isn't much more recognition that the forces of good could give the thing. Except maybe a free half-celestial template, lol.

[MadGreenSon]

Make sure not to undersell the saint thing. It's a very lofty recognition, and if it's just a bonus on top of everything else, it may seem a bit of a side order. Which would be a shame. Might be worth giving the saint thing its own bit of subplot later on, especially since, after that, there isn't much more recognition that the forces of good could give the thing. Except maybe a free half-celestial template, lol.

Don't misunderstand, the Beholder isn't up for Sainthood. The Celestial Mystic who Sanctified the Beholder is.

And it will be a BIG thing in game.

[Phelix-Mu]

Don't misunderstand, the Beholder isn't up for Sainthood. The Celestial Mystic who Sanctified the Beholder is.

And it will be a BIG thing in game.

My bad. Forget everything I said.

I kind of wish the 1-25 campaign I ran about five years back had lasted long enough for me to come up with an excuse to throw Saint at the VoP exalted cleric my friend was playing. The spellscale began the campaign as a ranger and went into Lion of Talisid, but as the lineup of other characters changed, he experienced a religious epiphany from Hleid (he was from a tribe in the distant north, she's a goddess from Frostburn). After that, he was rebuilt to be a cleric and took Vow of Poverty, and from there on out he was one of the cooler characters in that campaign (and he had some very stiff competition in that arena, especially at our height of six players...gods, still can't believe I managed that for any period of time).

Good times.

[MadGreenSon]

My bad. Forget everything I said.

I kind of wish the 1-25 campaign I ran about five years back had lasted long enough for me to come up with an excuse to throw Saint at the VoP exalted cleric my friend was playing. The spellscale began the campaign as a ranger and went into Lion of Talisid, but as the lineup of other characters changed, he experienced a religious epiphany from Hleid (he was from a tribe in the distant north, she's a goddess from Frostburn). After that, he was rebuilt to be a cleric and took Vow of Poverty, and from there on out he was one of the cooler characters in that campaign (and he had some very stiff competition in that arena, especially at our height of six players...gods, still can't believe I managed that for any period of time).

Good times.

I'm certain that the bolded bits weren't intentional. :smallbiggrin:

Sounds like an awesome game. I love it when players get really into the RP. There have been occasions in this game when they could have taken the easy way, the "efficient" way and gotten more things done. NPCs argued for it, but they've always stuck to their guns, the Mystic most of all has faced hideous temptations (Wizards being kinda easy to tempt) and overcome them all.

He deserves the Sainthood, I checked via secret ballot.

It is actually hard to picture that this same group of players also plays a group of low-level, drunken, self promoting rock-star adventurers who would likely sicken the higher level group with their antics. :smallbiggrin:

[Phelix-Mu]

Indeed. Priceless role play is priceless.

A great moment was in the same campaign, when a different (and decidedly more sadistic, though in a good way) DM was running things. A female lich, who my character (female Athasian halfling druid) had a serious enmity for after the lich fed my character her first animal companion (a hawk) in a bowl of soup. Anyway, this lich, a serious paranoid megalomaniac on her way to her own version of godhood, summoned the party under pretense of cooperation, in need of our "help" even as she was busy fusing the souls of slaadi into her personal demiplane, now big enough to start generating its own ethereal (a very bad sign).

The mission she described involved a few choices, all in an effort to mitigate a certain threat. The threat: a Tarrasque, fused with the soul of a famous, epic-level sorcerer and endowed with a version of regenerate that created a zone of disintegration around it as it assimilated its surroundings to rebuild its body.

The ways to stop the threat were three:
1.) Kill this other lich king, which would cause his power to go to the female lich whom the party hated. Once she had that power, she would be able to kill the Tarrasque herself.

2.) Kill this other monstrosity, some kind of interplanar plant creature that had DR 50/- or something. Once it was dead, she would acquire its DR for herself, which would give her the power boost necessary to take on the Tarrasque. As a bonus, this plant thing also threatened life on the Prime (just it wasn't an imminent threat).

3.) Hunt down a series of archmages, acquire their staves, and a number of other obscure ingredients. These could all be combined into a ritual that would weaken the Tarrasque and disorient its spellcasting ability for a brief period, allowing us to kill the Tarrasque. The downside here being some of the archmages weren't bad people, and once they were dead, they couldn't oppose Charlotte or help us.

My character, smart and ultra-wise, but firmly True Neutral, was determined to preserve the Prime from the depredations of the Tarrasque while still keeping Charlotte (the lich bitch) from acquiring more power (which would thwart my character's ambition to one day kill her). We wrestled with the options for some time, discussing if #3 was feasible, which of #1 or #2 we could do without making the very evil Charlotte a threat to all life everywhere. I was wracking my brain trying to decide, comparing pros and cons, and otherwise looking for the optimal of the three choices.

And then someone said "Hey, why don't we just tell her to go f@$# herself." (or something to that effect) And I realized, like a slap to the face, that I had almost fallen into Charlotte's evil trap. The trap was that we allow her to dictate our choices, all of which resulted in evil outcomes. We barely avoided this crucial failure, which would have definitely caused the members of the group with exalted stuff to lose it, and would have probably knocked my character down to Neutral Evil (not that that would bother her too much...her priority was retaining her druid abilities so she could guard the balance). More importantly, it would have probably driven my character batsh$# insane if she'd inadvertently fallen for her arch-nemesis' scheme.

In the end, the Tarrasque actually wasn't a threat, at least not to us or anyone else except Charlotte (since she considered all creatures stronger than her as threats to her control-freak efforts to guarantee her own survival and dominance). Although several of the non-good characters in the party then turned around and accepted "gifts" from Charlotte...which resulted in instant level-up plus huge amounts of Taint (luckily the one cleric of Kord had Pure Soul, lol, and the other one was a warlock that didn't give a damn).

[MadGreenSon]

I'm not much for campaign journals, but the first session of this has been run and our new hero got his bearings.

After getting used to having a body again and then emotionally recovering from being out from under both the weight of his own sins and the horrific conditions he'd been living in for a few decades, Irixus the Beholder thanked the Mystic for rescuing him and then took some personal time to wander the stronghold and contemplate life

Spent some quality roleplay talking to the old cleric about where he'd been and where he was (and also about how, for convenience's sake referring to him as "he" was fine) and finally about where he was going.

Apparently for most of his existence, like most Beholders, he'd been far more reactive than active and that landed him as a footstool, so he felt that he needed to make a few changes in that respect and start taking action and being more pro-active.

He slept on it.

He dreamed of the last day of his old life. He was giving half-hearted fire support to the BBEG's forces and watching the party fight them like the heroes that they are. The Mystic took him out of the fight non-lethally and next he knew, he was getting the "this is/was your life" treatment from Sanctify the Wicked.

Then he woke up.

He went and found the old cleric and told him he was resolved: He would be more than just a redeemed "Eyeball" he would take up the cause of his redeemer, face his former masters and those like them and make the world better for his having been in it.

The old cleric was pleased, but did take the time to make sure that initially, at least, he had the conviction to see it begun.

Then they went and found the Mystic and outlined everything The Mystic knew of the Gates of Dawn in Celestia for those who truly wanted a new beginning and was willing to open the way for Irixus to make the journey.

Irixus, having had breakfast and having no need to "gear up" as he had none, indicated that he was ready to go.

The Mystic offered his old Ring of Telekinesis to allow Irixus to more efficiently interact with the world, and though Irixus tried to decline, the Mystic was able to persuade him.

(a truly stellar bit of roleplaying here as The Mystic's player was playing both Irixus and himself)

Then the Gate was opened and our new hero was off to Celestia's first layer!

Irixus emerged on the shores of the Silver Sea in the perpetual night of Lunia and had been told to "follow his longing for renewal" to find the Gates.

He was hesitant at first, but none of the inhabitants bothered him, though some were curious (there was a funny conversation with a Lantern Archon that I can't do justice to here, but it was hilarious)

He eventually found his way through the various bits of nighttime wilderness in this section of Lunia and found himself before massive golden gates that seemed to lead into liquid light beyond which nothing could be seen. Standing before it was a Silver skinned, topaz eyed, white winged being who identified himself as Olin, the Keeper of Renewal.

Irixus made his plea and Olin was willing to let him brave the gates, but warned him that the way would not be easy and that he could only emerge from the Gates once he was truly renewed.

Irixus was strangely comfortable with this prospect; pass/die tests were not a new concept to him.

Olin assured him that he would not die, but if he was not able to be renewed he would instead join with the essence of Celestia itself.

Irixus thought that was not such a bad second option and Olin agreed.

And so Irixus went into the Gates of Dawn...

(that's all I have the stamina for right now, but his first "mission" is complete as well and I think the 'ol Orb did quite well! Post more later)

[Phelix-Mu]

Sounds awesome. Hehe. I like the image of the curious lantern archon and the everything-is-new sanctified beholder.

I'd post my campaign journals here, but they have mainly been for private use so far (and I'm currently not even playing D&D, but that is another matter). My friends and I have a private forum that we use for chatting and record-keeping; I originally started the journals because, usually around 8 months or so of a campaign, I can no longer recall things in the level of detail that I like to maintain. I'm really glad, cause some of the stuff we've done has been pretty darn awesome, and it would be a shame to forget it.

I also recommend, if keeping a journal isn't your thing, that you maybe try out recording the audio of your sessions. Used to be hard to do, but tech has really helped out on this point. Searching the audio files can still be a pain, but they are great for jogging one's memory.

[MadGreenSon]

Sounds awesome. Hehe. I like the image of the curious lantern archon and the everything-is-new sanctified beholder.


It was funny, the conversation started with the Lantern being surprised to see a good Beholder, then they talked about the differences between being a minion of Evil vs a Servant of Good, then it sorta tangented from there into talking about flying and how they both had distaste for being submerged in water and both felt there were less uncomfortable ways of cleaning oneself than being submerged in water and ended up comparing various spices they'd tried on food and promising to meet up at some point to exchange cooking tips (Irixus is a great cook as his Profession: Servant score can tell you)

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Part one point two

Upon entering the Gates, Irixus found himself in a white void with Olin, who told him that his trails began now and that he would be sent on a series of tasks to test his ability and judgement and to teach him lessons to help him along the way.

His first test would be a paradigm shift for him, he would need to observe a village that was under oppression and determine the right way to solve their problems, rather than the easy or expedient way.

So he suddenly found himself on the outskirts of a village, a scenic, forested area where his skills at Hide were quickly put to the test as a number of farmers were coming in from the fields.

Silently gliding along, in that way Beholders do, he observed the village. The people (human for the most part) were living simple lives, but he recognized the feel of the place, it was very familiar from his former life.

It was a pall of oppression and hopelessness.

When the evening came, a gang of human and half-orc thugs rolled into town and basically bullied and browbeat the villagers, taking various goods, drinking for free and basically treating the town in a manner reminiscent of a high school bully shoving a nerd's head in a toilet.

Sensing there was more going on than just this, Irixus restrained himself from intervening.

Once they had a couple of wagonloads of goods and had thoroughly humiliated the villagers, the thugs took off. In their wake, Irixus could see the way that the misery the thugs had inflicted was being reflected by the villagers inflicting misery upon one another.

He then utilized his skill at following tracks to follow the thugs back to where they came from.

There he also observed some interesting things, the group was apparently being led by a particularly loud and immature human who was both larger, dirtier and meaner than the rest and he enforced his will on the rest with an iron fist and humiliating words.

Irixus contemplated this for awhile, and decided some shock treatment was in order for the leader of the group. So he waited until said leader was going out for the outhouse, waited until he was done and then pulled him into the forest with his handy Ring of Telekinesis.

He then proceeded to tell this individual exactly what he was doing wrong and how he and his "boys" were going to change things both for themselves and for the people of the village. He told him about how he was going to be watching their every move (while focusing of all his eyestalks on the guy) and everything his "boys" did. (As a note, this was roleplayed extremely well and the player rolled a 19 for his Bluff check and a 20 for the Intimidate, dice gods smiled on this endeavor)

And he and he boys were going to publicly apologize to the village every day until they meant it.

When a big scary monster tells you the way things are going to be you pay attention, so this joker got back to his gang and told them of the new order to their lives and got them off to bed as they had a long day ahead.

We devoted a lot of time to Irixus' efforts to shepherd things along here, the only combat came up when a raiding party of Gnolls ended up getting eye-lasered and bitten to death before they could get near the town.

Otherwise it was all just a lot of careful intimidation and guile to get these guys moving along the right path. They weren't that far gone down the path of evil and working with the villagers got them going the right way.

After seeing the boss and his boys give their morning apology with genuine tears of remorse in their eyes, Irixus told him to take his strong men and join the community rather than work against it and stand ready to act as defenders of the community as it will need it.

Then he was back in the light with Olin.

We pretty much ended part one there with the two discussing what happened, how he went about it, and what could have gone wrong, etc.
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The first game of this side quest was very combat-light and roleplay-heavy but a lot of fun as the character sees things from a Beholderish point of view but has had a lot of his egocentric world view beaten out of him long before he was Sanctified.
He also recognizes the smell of oppression at 1000 yards.:smallbiggrin:

Part two is going to delve into serious undercover stuff as Irixus gets to be both human and to go to school! :smalltongue:

[MadGreenSon]

Was delayed a bit on this part by a sudden Way of the Wicked game, backported to 3.5 (geez my players can get evil)

So anyway. The Archon, Olin told our eye-covered hero that his next test would be harder, and require him to look beyond his previous ways of doing things to accomplish.

Then he 'morphed him into a "human" (actually an Elan, but either way Irixus didn't know the difference) and gave him some time to get used to his new form while they discussed where he would be going.

Basically, in the form of a 16 year old Elan/Human, he was going to Wizard School! Specifically the Eltorchul Academy in Waterdeep.

Under the assumed name of "Bran Watchlot" he was enrolled and his tuition covered. It was some very awkward roleplay for awhile, but a few other students were interested by the awkward newcomer and took him under their wing both in study and in socializing. These were the half-elf girl Cylla Nathos (a future Bard) and the young man Ivor Starag (a future Wizard).
Yeah, it was kind of a Harry Potter ripoff, give a guy a break here.

Taking that for a given Irixus was more or less the "Hermionie" of the trio, being socially awkward, knowledgeable, and prone to either sneaky or brute force problem solving.

A lot of roleplay went into the socialization aspects, but plot did come along in the form of Thea Eltorchul, one of the main authorities of the school and a plot to basically get the exclusivity that the school had lost (along with a good bit of prestige) back by making life very difficult for the non-noble or well-to-do students.

Irixus knew that this was the problem he had to solve, but Eye lasers and Intimidation were not going to get the job done here. Eventually, after a lot of internal struggle, he had to do the one thing that Beholders find most difficult: trust other people.

Cylla had the social skills and Ivor the clout to get the Master of the Academy to listen to the evidence they had gathered and get Lord Eltorchul to put a stop to this nonsense as despite the loss of prestige, the more open academy was helping House Eltorchul economically a great deal and getting them a reputation as being egalitarian and open-minded.

So. Irixus had to trust them with that part, while he took on the task of delaying and stymieing Thea's minions using stealth, trickery, cantrips, and a few well placed eye lasers.

And it worked. His trust in his new friends paid off, Thea was brought to heel, and the Acadamy remained open.

Also, in an emotional scene afterward, Irixus came clean to his two young friends about the truth of himself and they were taken aback, but willing to meet with him when all was said and done and remain friends.

Fortified, by these new feelings of warmth. Irixus found himself back in the white void with Olin, and they had a chat about what he had learned and Olin told him that time was not a constant between the gates and the world and his young friends would be a few years older when he got back.

He also told him to prepare, as his next test would be the hardest yet...

[ShurikVch]

Make sure he wears a nice hat. If people see a nasty eye tyrant floating around they'll think he's a monster, but if he's wearing clothing then people will say, "oh, he's a person, neat." Beholders have telekinetic eye ray. Can "wear" whole suit and nobody will notice until got closer