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View Full Version : Ex-Villain in party, little help needed GMing



Tzekan
2007-07-09, 01:23 PM
Ok, first the explain this is set in a scifi setting (using GURPS, not that it makes much difference)

What has happened is one pretty long-term villain, who was minor for most the campaign, has now ended up pretty much attached to the party. She was a pest early on, but last adventure she came across a device used by another enemy from near the very start designed to control all robotic military forces in a star system, and declared herself ruler. The party proceeded to give her new empire a beating, then it got interesting

One of the party members serves an entity of insane power, which makes him not disimilar to a scifi Cleric. When the villain was defeated, she realised she had no followers left, no advantages or boltholes, so begged for sanctuary from his god as her only hope of survival. Since there was a clause in taking sanctuary, the entity i decided really must accept.

So now the ex-villain must remain within a mile of the "cleric" at all times or lose sanctuary until back in the influence. Also, she rather unpleasantly discovered that she must now serve the entities goals, of good. She is rather upset about this.

Trouble is, although this could be a fantastic opportunity, it is looking very hard to roleplay. She needs to still be a evil, dark character with little morals who often disturbs the party, but serving the same ends. I also don't want endless moping about wanting to kill everyone, because not only would it drive any party insane, it would drive me mad too

any suggestions about roleplaying this situation? (which i may have created, but hey!)

Inyssius Tor
2007-07-09, 01:36 PM
Evil doesn't have to kick a puppy every time it sees one, even if Evil wants to.

After your villain works through the Kübler-Ross model (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model), have her realize that her only way out of this is to earn the party's trust. Even if she is forced to act good all the time, at least she can spy on the Entity's plots. Sooner or later, someone will let their guard down, and then--

She'll have the party's gear, the Entity's plans, a reputation for having reformed, and best of all, the party's backs will be turned.

EDIT: Oh, and all of the party's contacts (unless you have good communications equipment) will freely give her aid, if she can weave a good cover-story when she escapes.

Yechezkiel
2007-07-09, 01:40 PM
There's tons of Sci-Fi to watch for inspiration. I remember half the villians on Farscape being part of the crew at one point or another.

Dragonmuncher
2007-07-09, 01:42 PM
There's also the Spike model (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame).

He's evil, but he can't really do many evil things anymore. However, he still likes violence and kicking butt. So he just switches targets from "tasty humans" to "evil monsters."

Your villain could do the same thing. Don't know much about her personality, but she could be evil and still get really excited about using cunning plans to thwart her enemies, and the like. Using her connection to this god to try and get some power of her own, again, and so forth. And of course, if the opportunity for betrayal comes along (a really sure thing, that would almost definitely work with little to no risk), than she could take it. Or maybe she'll be evil, but still be loyal to her group (sort of like how Jayne may have ended up if Firefly had kept going).


Note: If you use the Spike model, make sure your villian doesn't get incredibly annoying and heartsick.

Jasdoif
2007-07-09, 01:52 PM
If your goal is to disturb the party via low morals, "the ends justify the means" could do it. While not going to kill everyone she lays her eyes on, she will most certainly balk at anything suggesting that the party's foes (and thus hers) should be kept alive without a practical reason ("Why give them the chance to escape and fight us for a second time? Kill them now and be done with it!"), and won't be deterred by innocent people in the middle of an operation (again, without a practical reason). And won't be adverse to using threats and torture where useful ("If they don't want to come to any harm they shouldn't oppose us in the first place!"). Pretty much, be totally practical and not place any innate value on the lives or well-being of others.

SoulCatcher78
2007-07-09, 02:10 PM
Enjoy her entertainment as long as it lasts and then "space" her! Seriously though, someone already mentioned Farscape *which has some great material for incorporating the bad guys* but you should also check out the new Battlestar Galactica (first two seasons mostly but the last was pretty good as well) for how to build on those "uncomfortable" relationships.